[320 words]
Perhaps the Bible’s greatest enemy is preaching; preaching that makes the Bible appear to be a book of conflicting, contradictory doctrines. Robert Owen, the notorious atheist said in controversy with Alexander Campbell that the reason he was an atheist was because he had read so many conflicting doctrines all of which claimed the Bible as their source, so he decided the Bible was no good.
Jesus prayed that all his disciples would be one as he and the Father are one so the world would believe that God sent him into the world. Adding human creeds and doctrines to the Bible is fatal; not only fatal to those who do the adding, but fatal to those deceived by such false teachings. The Bible does not teach many of the doctrines which men say it teaches. Jesus prayed that all his disciples be one through the word of the inspired apostles (John 17:20). But the word of the apostles is God’s word (John 17:8,14). Therefore, those who reject the word of the apostles reject God’s word.
One reason there are atheists, infidels and skeptics is because multitudes of preachers have left the impression that God’s word contains all the conflicting doctrines taught in the religious world. But God’s word does not contradict itself; God’s word teaches just the truth on any subject. If it is not handled aright it may be wrested into meaning that which it does not actually say.
We in the church of Christ are pleading for people to exile, burn, bury, destroy the human doctrines that divide men, and which the Bible does not teach so that people will respect the Bible for what it is. It is a book of harmonious truth and contains the soul-saving gospel which if obeyed by all, nothing more, nothing less, will bring about the oneness Jesus prayed for, and will cause the world to realize that God sent Jesus to save sinners.
Basil Overton
from Seven Score Short Sermons